Flying machine



Nov. 26, 1935. G. F.-MYER$ 2,022,476

FLYING MACHINE Filed March 14', 1953 Patented Nov. 26, 1935 FLYINGMACHINE George Francis Myers, New York, N. Y.

Application March 14, 1933, Serial No. 660,652

48 Claims.

This invention relates to flying machines.

It has for its object to produce a machine that will rise verticallydirectly off the ground like a helicopter, or will rise gradually by arun over the ground like a land plane, or over the water like a seaplane.

It has for its further object to devise a machine having all thecharacteristics and advantages of a helicopter coupled with all thecharacteristics and advantages of an airplane.

With these and other objects in view the invention consists in certainnovel features of construction and combination hereinafter to bedescribed and then more particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawing, wherein similar numerals of referencedenote similar parts throughout the several views:

Figures 1 and 2 are perspective'views of the preferred embodiment of theinvention; Fig. 1 being a land plane; and Fig. 2 a sea plane.

The invention is constructed and operated substantially and preferablyas follows:

I is the fuselage, 2 the motor, 3 the propeller, 4 the wing surface, 5the stabilizing plane, 6 the elevator, I the fin, 8 the vertical rudder,9 the ailerons, ill the pontoons, I l the earth engaging means at therear end of thepontoons, I 3 the earth engaging means at the end of thefuselage and I4 the earth engaging means above the .rudder. I5 is a wireor tie between l3 and M. are the landing wheels.

If the pilot has a land plane as for instance like the machine shown inFig. 1 he runs along the ground in the same general fashion as anordinary airplane, and when through with flying lands at an airport inthe usual way. I1, however, he finds he must land in a very restrictedplace where a run is impossible, he zooms, and comes down verticallylanding on the rear wheels of the machine and the top wheel H, and whenready to take off therefrom rising substantially vertically.

If the pilot has a sea plane asshown for instance in Fig. 2 he skimsover the surface of the water and lifts the machine into the air in theusual manner. On landing he alights on the water in the ordinary way.But if he wishes to land on the deck of a ship for instance he zooms upand lands vertically on the deck, the dash pots II on the pontoons withthe dash pot or earth engaging means l3, wholly above the bottom of thefuselage, taking up the shock of landing. The upper earth engaging meansabove the rudder, which can be a pot, wheel, rubber cushion, or anyother convenient device, will keep the machine from tipping overbackwards. When ready to take off from the deck or the like the machinewill rise substantially vertically, as aforesaid.

As my invention is in some of its aspects generic, I do not limit myselfto the particular construction shown and described, but also contemplatethe employment of such equivalents for the several elements as fairlyfall within the scope of my claims.

In this connection I will state that this application contains mattercommon to my application Serial No. 178,351 filed March 25, 1927, where4 the invention is more'fully described; also in my 15 .-size and detailof the several structures shown, the number of certain elements used, aswell as the character of the motive power employed, a without departingfrom the spirit of the invenso tion.

I claim: l. The combination in a flying machine, of an elongated tubularbody, wings thereon, three dimensional control therefor, and an elevatorand rudder mounted further to the rear than the 35 wings; and threeearth engaging means mounted triangularly on the body, two of the meansbeing mounted below the body, and a single means mounted along avertical plane passing through the longitudinal center line of themachine; and" so positioned that should the machine land at such anangle that the said center line would lean beyond and backward of thevertical, none of the controls when in their normal inert positionswould strike the ground, and the machine would drop forward onto itssaid two lower means.

-2. The combination in a flying machine, of a fuselage, earth engagingmeans mounted below the fuselage, and earth engaging means mounted atthe extreme rear end of the fuselage in a 0 vertical plane passingthrough the center of gravity thereof, projecting rearwardlytherebeyond,

and fixed as to lateral movement thereto.

3. The combination in a flying machine, of a covered streamlined carextending rearwardly,

a rudder, and elevator, mounted at the extreme rear end of the car abovethe same and along the longitudinal center line thereof, and earthengaging means mounted in the rear of and projecting rearwardly beyondboth the car and the rudder and the elevator and directlybelow therudder.

4. The combination in a flying machine, of a body, and earth engagingmeans mounted rearwardly of the tail end of the body and wholly abovethe bottom thereof and forming a streamlined continuation of the same.

5. The combination in a flying machine, of a body, and earth engagingmeans mounted rearwardly of the tail end of the body and forming astreamlined continuation of the same.

6. The combination in a flying machine, of a body, and earth engagingmeans mounted rearwardly of the tail end of the body substantially alongthe longitudinal center line thereof and forming a streamlinedcontinuation of the same.

7. The combination in a flying machine, of a body, an elevator, arudder, and earth engaging means mounted below the rudder, between theflaps of the elevator, at the tail end of the body and beyond the sameand the elevator and the rudder, and streamlined with respect to thebody.

8. The combination in a flying machine, of a I fuselage, a motor andpropeller, ailerons, elevator and rudder, a pair of earth engaging meansmounted below the fuselage, and another earth engaging means projectingbeyond the rear portion of the fuselage of the rudder and of theelevator and between the flaps of the last named control, inlongitudinal alinement with the motor and propeller wholly above thebottom of the fuselage and substantially along its longitudinal centerline and streamlined into the rear portion thereof. r

9. The combination in a flying machine, Ff'a covered streamlined nacelleextending rearwardly, three-dimensional controls, and flxed earthengaging means mounted substantially along the longitudinal center lineof the nacelle and projecting rearwardly therefrom and wholly above thebottom of the same, and beyond all other controls when the machine isdropping substantially vertically tail foremost.

10. The combination in a flying machine, of a motor, a nacelle for thesaid motor extending rearwardly, and an earth engaging means projectingrearwardly from and mounted at the rear of the said nacelle and whollyabove the bottom of the same.

11. The combination in' a flying machine, of a wing, three-dimensionalcontrol, a motor, a nacelle for the motor extending further rearwardlythan the wing and controls, and earth engaging means mounted in the rearof the nacelle and in longitudinal alignment with the motor andwholly'above the bottom of the nacelle.

12. The combination in a flying machine, of a covered streamlinednacelle extending rearwardly,

earth touching element mounted wholly above the fuselage.

14. The combination in a flying machine, of a fuselage, earth engagingmeans mounted below the fuselage, earth engaging means mounted-at theextreme rear end of the fuselage mounted wholly above the same and alongthe longitudir, nal center line thereof, the lower means consisting oftwo wheels, and the rear means consisting of one wheel.

15. The combination in a flying machine, of a fuselage, an elevator, andearth engaging means 10 mounted wholly above the bottom of the fuselagealong the longitudinal center line of the same and between the flaps ofthe elevator.

16. The combination in a flying machine, of a fuselage, an elevator, andearth engaging means 15 mounted wholly above the bottom of the fuselagealong the longitudinal center line of the same and streamlined into thefuselage.

1'7. The combination in a flying machine, of a plane, ailerons, elevatorand rudder, and a. plu- 20 rality of alighting means one of the samebeing mounted between the said elevator and the said rudder.

18. The combination in a flying machine, of a plane, ailerons, elevatorand rudder, and a plu- 25 rality of alighting means one of the samebeing mounted between the said elevator and the said rudder and invertical alignment with both of the samei 19. The combination in aflying machine, of 30 two bases of earth engaging means mounted at anangle one to the other, one base below and one base to the rear of thenacelle, the lower base being of one kind and the rear base of anotherkind. 35

20. The combination in a. flying machine, of a nacelle, two bases ofearth engaging means mounted at an angle one to the other two of themeans being mounted adjacent to the rear portion of the nacelle adaptingthe same to alight 40 substantially vertically on the land, and buoyancychambers mounted adjacent to the two means for holding up the nacellewhen alighting vertically on the water.

21. The combination in a flying machine, of a 15 nacelle, and two basesof earth engaging means mounted at an angle one to the other, one basemounted below the nacelle and one base to the rear thereof, the twobases permitting the nacelle to alight horizontally on the land, orhorizontally on the water, or vertically on the land, or vertically onthe water.

22. The combination in a flying machine, of means for vertical andlateral control, a fuselage, a pair of floats mounted below the saidfuselage, and earth engaging means mounted at the rear ends of both thesaid fuselage and the said floats.

23. In a flying machine of the kind described, in combination with meansfor vertical and lateral control and a fuselage, of a float, andresilient earth engaging means mounted on said float and in position tofunction when the said float is landing substantially vertically.

24. In a flying machine of the kind described, in combination with meansfor vertical and lateral control, and a fuselage, of a float, andresilient earth engaging means mounted at the rear ends of both the saidfuselage and the said float.

25. The combination in a flying machine having vertical and lateralcontrol, of a fuselage, and a pair of floats mounted below and on eachside of the said fuselage and extending rearwardly to substantially thesame distance as the same, and

earth engaging means mounted substantially in longitudinal alignmentwith the said fuselage and with each of the said floats and forming atriangular ground support for the machine when the same landssubstantially vertically.

26. The combination in a flying machine, of a fuselage, earth engagingmeans mounted below the fuselage, earth engaging means mounted to therear of the fuselage, the lower means consisting of but two earthtouching elements, and the rear means consisting of but three earthtouching elements.

27. The combination in a flying machine, of a fuselage, earth engagingmeans mounted below the fuselage, earth engaging means mounted to therear of the fuselage, the lower means consisting of but two floats, andthe rear means consisting of but three dashpots.

28. Thecombination in a flying machine having vertical and lateralcontrol, of a fuselage, a float, and landing means comprising a dash potarrangement mounted on the after end of the said float and extending inlongitudinal alignment with the same.

29. The combination in a flying machine having vertical and lateralcontrol, of a fuselage, a float having a keel, and earth engaging meanscomprising a dash 'pot arrangement mounted longitudinally in line withthe said keel.

30. The combination in a flying machine, having vertical and lateralcontrol, of a fuselage, a float having a. keel extending substantiallyto the rear end thereof, and earth engaging means comprising a dash potarrangement mounted longitudinally in line with the said keel.

31. The combination in a-flying machine, of two bases'of earth engagingmeans mounted at an angle one to the other, one base below and one baseto the rear of the nacelle, the lower base being of a boat likestructure and the rear base being provided with a plurality of dashpots.

32. The combination in a flying machine, of a fuselage, earth engagingmeans mounted below the fuselaga'and earth engaging means mounted at theextreme rear end of the fuselage in a. vertical plane passing throughthe center of gravity thereof and having a dash pot arrangementextending in longitudinal alinement therewith.

33. The'combinatlon in-a flying machine, of a fuselage, earth. engagingmeans mounted below the fuselage; and earthengaging means mounted at theextreme rear end of the fuselage in'a-vertical plane passing throughfthecenter of gravity thereofhaving a movement longitudinal thereto along astraight line. in the said plane.

34. The combination in a flying machine, of a fuselage, earth engagingmeans mounted below the fuselage, and earth engaging means mounted atthe extreme rear end of the fuselage in a vertical plane passing throughthe center of gravity thereof and retractable forwardly from the saidextreme rear end of the fuselage substantially into the same.

35. The combination in a fly g machine, of a fuselage, a rudder postmounted above the said fuselage, and an earth engaging means mounted onan upper extension of the said post.

36. The combination in a flying machine of a triangularly arranged setof earth engaging means mounted rearwardly of the machine, and a fourthearth engaging means mounted above said set.

37. The combination in a flying machine, of means for lateral andvertical control, a rudder post, a triangularly arranged set of earthen- 8 8 8 means mounted rearwardly of the machine, one of the said earthengaging means being mounted abovethe longitudinal center line of themachine onan extension of the said rudder post.

38. The combination in a flying machine, of 5 means for vertical andlateral control, a rudder post, a four wheeled landing gear mountedbelow the machine, and a three wheeled landing gear mounted in the rearthereof, one of the wheels of thesaid landing gear being mounted above10 the longitudinal center line of the machine on an extension of thesaid rudder post.

39. The combination in a flying machine, of-

means for vertical and lateral control, a rudder post, a four wheeledlanding gear below the same, and a three wheeled landing gear in therear thereof, one of the said wheels being mounted above and along thelongitudinal center line of the machine as an extension of the saidrudder post, two wheels of the said lower gear serving as wheels in thesaid rear gear.

40. The combination in a flying machine, of a wing, ailerons, anelevator, a vertical rudder, a streamlined nacelle extending furtherrearwardly than the wing and the elevator, and the rudder, two bases ofearth engaging means at an angle one to the other, one base below andthe other base to the rear of the nacelle, two of the means being commonto the two bases, and the other two means of the rear base being mountedabove the common means each forming a triangle therewith, the apex ofeach of which is mounted along a vertical plane passing between the twocommon means.

41. The combination in a flying machine, of a wing, ailerons, anelevator, a vertical rudder, a streamlined'nacelle extending furtherrearwardly than the wing and the elevator, and the rudder, two bases ofearth engaging means at an angle one to the other, one base below andthe other 40 base to the rear of the nacelle, two of the means beingcommon to the two bases, and the other two means of the rearbase beingmounted in vertical alignment one with the other above the common meanseach forming a triangle therewith, the apex of each of which is mountedalong a vertical plane passing between the two common means.

42. The combination in a flying machine, of a nacelle, enginepowerpmeans for producing airplane propeller thrust, supporting surface,threedimensional control, and a. fin: resilient earth engaging means;and astrengthened portion positioned far above the car. and over theflnand mounted in such a manner that it will strike the gro'undflrst andprevent the said means from touching the ground should the machine tipover entirely rearwardly.

43. The combinationin a flying machine,.of a nacelle, an engine, anairplane propeller, a wing, three-dimensional control; resilient earthengag ing means; and a strengthened portion positioned wholly above thenacelle adjacent to a vertical plane passing through the central portionthereof and mounted in such a' manner menu will strike the ground firstand prevent the said means from touching the ground should the machinetip over entirely rearwardly.

44. The combination in a flying machine, .of a fuselage, a fixed fin, anearth engaging means mounted on the fuselage below the fin, and an earthengaging means mounted above the fin.

' 45. The combination in a flying machine, of a fuselage, a fixed fln, arudder, an earth engaging means mounted on the fuselage below the finand the rudder, and an earth engaging means mounted above the fln andthe rudder.

46. The combination in a flying machine having vertical and lateralcontrols, of a fuselage, a pair of floats mounted below and on each sidethereof and extending rearwardly to substantially the same distance asthe same, and earth engaging means mounted substantially in longitudinalalignment with the said fuselage and with each of the said floatsforming a triangular ground support for the machine when the same tosubstantially the same distance as the same, resilient and retractableearth engaging means mounted substantially in longitudinal alignmentwith the said fuselage and the said floats forming a triangular groundsupport for the machine when the same lands substantially vertically,and

a fourth nonretractable earth engaging means mounted above the saidother means.

48. The combination in a flying machine, of

means for vertical and lateral control, a fuselage, 10

a resilient earth engaging means mounted rearwardly thereof and attachedthereto, a rudder, a second'earth enga ing means mounted above the saidrudder, and a tie member mounted be tween the said two means.

GEORGE FRANCIS MYERS.

